PROFILES IN MENTORING

Elizabeth Newman

Occupation: Filmmaker/Actor  
Years with YSF: 2 years (4th session)
Most recent school: Vermont Elementary
Industry Affiliation: EVN Productions (www.evnproductions.com)
Favorite Movie: “Singing in the Rain” makes me happy always
Favorite Book (or book recommendation): Favorite new books: “The Likeness” and “In the Woods” both by Tana French
Name of your favorite teacher growing up: Aside from my mom (who is an Education Professor) Nancy Elting, Paul Barsky, Matthew Stuart, Irving Krasner, Judy Blanton… Too many to name. I’m lucky.
Why do you mentor?: Because it is the most satisfying, most real, most cheerful thing I’ve found in Los Angeles.
What was the last script you mentored? What was it about?: I’ve been a head mentor for a while, but the last script I ‘foster mentored’ when the mentor was absent was about a girl who wanted to go to space. Because she is too young to go to space, she decides to perform a play in her school assembly about going to space. A great twist! And a play within a play! Bravo.
Is there a moment that stands out to you in your experience as a mentor?: It was the day of the Fall ’09 Big Show. When I got to the school, the writers were already gathering themselves together and making sure that everyone was accounted for. There was such a sense of ownership and excitement and pride about what was about to happen. It was their show and the light that that knowledge brought to their eyes is something I’ll never forget.  
What would you tell others about YSF?: You go thinking you’re doing it to help kids, and then you realize that you are getting just as much, if not more, out of the experience.
How does YSF affect you, and how do you think it affects other mentors?: It is wonderful to interact with young people whose sense of imagination is, as of yet, unchecked.   And the kids just ‘get it’. We had some film grad. student mentors laugh at themselves because our  young writers had such a great grasp on concepts that they, themselves, were grappling with in their own studies. 
Mentoring advice or trick of the trade:I always remind myself and others of the YSF creed: ‘Relax, it’s all going to be fine!”